CURRIE ON TRAVELLING JANUARY 2008 IN FRANCE HOLLAND & GERMANY WITH FAMILY & FRIENDS

After Len's excessive breakfast we thought some exercise was called
for, so we resolved to walk from the Marina precinct to Little India.
Not before the morning coffee of course - one of the advantages of
returning to a favourite hotel is that you know the nearest place to
get a decent capuccino (even if it does come with a cinnamon stick for
a stirrer, which actually works pretty well, but can't see it catching
on in Carlton).

We went via the Singapore Art Museum, which most appropriately had an
exhibition of contemporary Indian art.   Some strange cross-cultural
items eg a bare chested Mary dangling a pair of bright blue nipples
above an emaciated baby J, watched by 3 very sub-continental Magi.
But some very intriguing and attractive works too.   The Museum
buiding is an old Catholic school, which had been restored very
effectively.

From there we walked up to look for little India.   No trouble
telling when we had arrived, the brightly coloured gold embellished
Krishna temple was a sign we were on the right track, and the change
in aromas and sudden prevalence of bullion dealers, gold jewellers and
gold-platers confirmed our arrival.

The buildings in Little India appear to be some of the last remnants
of old Singapore, so Wen's digital was busy.   Gentrification
beginning - we went to a gallery which claimed to have been a brothel
two months earlier, and had the photographic exhibition to prove it.

By this time breakfast had subsided sufficiently to allow a tasty
lunch of savoury lentils, potato and spinach curry and garlic nan
bread, washed down by a Tiger.   Just as well we ate before we got to
the Indian market:  the smell of over-ripe seafood there was somewhat
off-putting, but the sights were wonderful and once again had the
digital in overdrive.   Another good cross-cultural sight was the
"Madras Pizza Restaurant"!

About 7 or 8 K by the time we were back outside Raffles, so into the
Long Bar for a drink.   A great day.